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Belt feels good in return from disabled list

First baseman, out since May 9 with broken thumb, goes 0-for-4 after activation

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Belt's nice play 0:22

7/4/14: Brandon Belt makes a diving stop to take a hit away from Brooks Conrad and tags first base with his glove for the out

By Chris Haft
/
MLB.com |

SAN DIEGO -- Overall, Brandon Belt felt satisfied Friday after playing his first game in nearly two months.

"I wish I had done a few things differently, but I'll make the adjustments," said Belt, who went 0-for-4 in the Giants' 2-0 loss to the San Diego Padres after being officially activated from the disabled list.

Missing nearly eight weeks with a fractured left thumb understandably disrupted Belt's timing. Batting second behind Hunter Pence, he popped out to shortstop twice, flied out to center field and struck out. Before his May 9 injury, Belt ranked among the National League leaders with nine home runs.

But Belt felt upbeat about his return.

"I thought there were a couple of times I wasn't too far from getting a hold of one," he said.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy agreed.

"I'm sure he has a little rust on him still," Bochy said. "But he made some nice plays at first and looked comfortable over there. He got some pretty good swings off. It might take him a game or two to really get into a groove. But it's good to have him back. He's going to help us."

Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Haft-Baked Ideas, and follow him on Twitter at @sfgiantsbeat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.